Hong Kong's Musical Fireworks Contest promises visitors a Dazzling Harbour Show

Fireworks displays over Victoria Harbour have long been one of Hong Kong's most popular and exciting attractions for visitors and residents - but the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will be raising the thrill levels to new heights for three nights in early October when it breaks new ground yet again, with Asia's first-ever International Musical Fireworks Competition.

The third mega-event of the HKTB's Global Tourism Revival Campaign, the competition will see top teams from Italy, Japan and the United States compete in the sky alongside a Hong Kong team with some of the world's newest and most spectacular pyrotechnic effects, all brilliantly synchronised to music.

Complementing the new "Hong Kong - Live it, Love it!" global advertising campaign, the Hong Kong International Musical Fireworks Competition is designed to sustain the momentum of the tourism recovery and create a stage for showcasing Hong Kong as Asia's capital of events and entertainment.

Right after the well-established National Day fireworks display on Wednesday 1 October, which runs from 9:00 to 9:15 pm, the four competing teams will each stage a two-minute preview of their entry. Then on each of the following two Sunday nights, the contestants will present their full, 10-minute competition displays. Hong Kong and Italy will get the excitement started on Sunday 5 October from 8:00 to 8:21 pm, then Japan and the United States will take their turn at the same time on Sunday 12 October. The winners will be announced immediately afterwards.

HKTB Executive Director Clara Chong said that Hong Kong's internationally famous harbour skyline provided what must be one of the world's most beautiful and photogenic settings for such a competition. "This contest is designed to capitalise on the strength of Victoria Harbour as a tourism attraction and show Hong Kong at its best to the world. It also demonstrates Hong Kong's ability in organising top-class international events and reinforces our standing as Asia's world city." 

Some truly innovative and world-class displays can be guaranteed as the visiting teams are all leaders in their field who have won previous international competitions. The event provides these teams with an opportunity to share their countries' cultures with the people of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong a further chance to display its internationalism.

At today's press briefing, the programmes of the four participants were introduced by local celebrities the Cookies, Patrick Tang, Ronald Cheng and Alex Fong.

Hong Kong, appropriately, will showcase its enchanting fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, while the Italian team will portray a classical theme, recreating the excitement of the opera. Artists from Japan will add yet another dimension by transforming the night sky into a romantic canvas of the four seasons; and the United States will bring the latest technology to the fore with the Art of Fireworks' Digital Choreography.

The winners will take home a magnificent trophy and all four teams will receive special mementoes of the occasion. The 11-strong judging panel includes representatives of the HKTB, various Government departments and fireworks experts.

The HKTB is using this opportunity to promote Hong Kong's vibrant and exciting image not only in the home countries of the competing teams, but worldwide, and to create a platform on which the overseas travel trade can sell Hong Kong more effectively. The trade has been very supportive of the competition and a number of trade partners have built special travel packages around it, with thousands of visitors expected to join special fireworks tours following tactical promotions launched in Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan and Southeast Asia. In addition, media groups have been invited from eight major markets to witness the shows. They will all have a grandstand view of the event, as Harbour City has offered some 7,500 VIP tickets for visitors to enjoy the fireworks from the roof of Ocean Terminal.

The competition will also be promoted vigorously to in-town visitors, including those on business trips. "This is the high season for business and conventions travel, and we believe that some visitors coming here on business trips can be encouraged to extend their stay over the weekend, or even to bring their families with them to share the excitement of this event," Ms Chong noted.

"Again, we are keen to demonstrate our ability in organising world class events and to leave visitors with a lasting, memorable impression of Hong Kong," Ms Chong added. "They will share their experience with friends, relatives and business colleagues back home, and this in turn will encourage more event organisers to look favourably on Hong Kong as a venue in the future."

As a further means enhancing the visitors' experience in Hong Kong, the HKTB is encouraging local food districts and restaurants to design special menus around the four competition themes, which will be promoted through tent cards on the tables. Many have shown their support to HKTB's activities by providing special menus and privileges for visitors. Among them, 30 restaurants have introduced themed menus while dining outlets at food districts such as The Peak, Knutsford Terrace, Lan Kwai Fong and Hillwood Soho will provide special drinks and menus.

Best viewing areas for the displays will be the Hung Hom, Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Admiralty or Wan Chai waterfronts, or from aboard a boat in the harbour itself, as a number of tour operators will be organising special fireworks cruises on the three nights of the competition.

Equipment will be installed along the promenade of Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui and Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai for broadcasting the background music of the displays. RTHK Radio 4 will also broadcast the music simultaneously. And for those who cannot join the crowds, Cable TV News Channel 1 and ATV will be broadcasting live coverage of the displays.

Following the Hong Kong International Musical Fireworks Competition, the HKTB will stage Hong Kong WinterFest from November to early January and the International Chinese New Year Night Parade early next year. Another major programme is the pre-launch of Avenue of Stars in March 2004, which caters for visitors' interest in Hong Kong movies and move stars. Together with a wide array of other events organised by the public and private sectors, there is simply non-stop excitement ahead in Hong Kong.